Dental Sealants For Your Teeth

By Anthony G. Johnson, DDS

Johnson Pediatric Dentistry

. http://www.johnsonpediatricdentistry.com/

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Dental Sealants For Your Teeth

Tooth decay, particularly in deep pits and grooved surfaces harbor food debris and micro-organisms, and have been described as “the single most important anatomical feature leading to the development of cavities.” Creative innovations in the field of preventive dentistry eventually led to the practice of bonding teeth, and the introduction of dental sealants a protective, plastic coating applied to the biting surfaces of the teeth.

Dental sealants play a critical role in preventive dentistry. Teeth with deep pits & fissures (namely, molars) have always been the location of the earliest and most prevalent cavities. The natural flow of saliva and even regular and frequent toothbrushing may not be enough to keep grooves clean. Toothbrush bristles are often too large to reach the bottom of the crevices of pits and fissures. From the 1950’s up through the 1970’s, 70% of molar cavities were found to appear within 10 years of tooth emergence, with a high percentage of these occurring in the first three years. As a result, it is widely believed that sealants should be placed on molars within 3-4 years of their eruption.

Sealants are made of a clear or shaded plastic material. Many types have the ability to release fluoride into the sealed tooth over time, to help keep the molar cavity-free. Sealant placement is performed in a single visit, and is both swift and painless.

Although some primary (or baby) teeth may benefit from sealant placement, teeth that are judged to be at the highest risk for cavities are the molars that emerge at ages six and 12. Sealants can also be placed over very small cavities, providing a non-invasive method of stopping the tooth cavitation process.

Sealants can last for many years if properly cared for. On routine visits, the sealants should be checked, and repaired as necessary to ensure that the child is protected thoroughout his/her most cavity prone years.

One of the basic tenets of pediatric dentistry is preventive dentistry. The presence of fluoride in drinking water is a major factor and has contributed to the decrease in the incidence of cavities overall. And now sealants have become an increasingly important addition by preventing pit and fissure cavities.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist for additional questions.